Photographic enlarger



Nov. 17, 1936.

J. VF. GATY PHOTOGRAHIC ENLARGER Filed April ll, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A ORNEYS Nov. 17, 1936. J, P 'GATY 2,061,192

PHTOGRAPHIC ENLARGER Filed April l1, 1935 r 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR kiwi-'11,1'

47u01, /Z Wd A oRNEYs Patented Nov. 17, 1936 2,061,192 v rno'rocnarmc ENLARGER John P. Gaty, Woodside, N. Y., assignor to Fairchild Aerial Camera Corporation, Woodside, N. Y., a corporation of New York I Application April 11, 1935, Serial No. 15,802

9 claims. (c1. :ss-24) This invention relates in general to photographic apparatus and more particularly to photographic enlarging devices.

One of the objects of the invention is t'o provide an enlarger and a support therefor whereby the entire device will be adjustable vertically and rotatably about a transverse axis.-

Another object is to provide an enlarger wherein thelens and the lamp may be adjusted with relation to each other and to the remainder of the device.

A further object is to provide a convenient arrangement for the cleaning, inspection, removal and replacement of the light condensing elements and the diffusing disc without disassembling the device or disturbing the lamp housing or the lamp and for automatically insuring proper alignment of these various parts when assembled.

A further object is to provide a pressure plate that is readily removable from the film but adapted to be tightly and effectively clamped against it by a simple and positive acting clamping means.

A further object is to provide a support Whereby the enlarger may be quickly and readily adjusted vertically, rotatably or horizontally with the minimum difficulty and also so that the lamp housing and enlarger head may be moved outwardly from the base of the supportand up- `wardly therefrom as the size of the enlargement is increased so that the base will not interfere elevated.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter set forth in the following specification and appended claims, certain embodiments thereof being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the photographic enlarger on its supporting posts, showing the lower casing in unassembled position;

Figure 2 is a partial view in front elevation of the device showing the lower casing in assembled position; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the side coverings removed and the lower casing in assembled position;

Figure 4 is a view in section taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a view in section taken along line 5--5 of Figure 3; y

Figure 6 is an enlarged detailed view in side elevation of the locking ring for the two' adjacent housings. showing the latter apart. n Referring more particularly to the drawings,

with the field of the enlarger as the apparatus is v the photographic enlarger comprises a lamp housing I, an enlarger head including a stationary portion 2 and a pivotally movable portion 3, in which latter a lens casing 4 is supported. The Wall of the lamp housing may be slotted at 5 to 5 receive a lamp socket 6 for an appreciable longitudinal adjustment. The means for adjusting the lamp socket may be housed in a box 1 secured to the lamp housing. The back 8 of the socket carries-a rack 9 slidably supported by a bolt Il) 10 fastened to the upper and lower walls of the box 'l Vby screws I I. Supported by the box on a transverse axis is a pinion |2 forgengaging the rack. The hand knob |3 is secured to the same axis so as to bring about a manual rotation of the pin- 15 ion to effect a longitudinal adjustment of the lamp socket. The back 8 of the socket also carries a pointer I4 to register with a calibrated scale I5 on the outer face of the box. The box may also carry a member I6 centrally bored at I'I to loosely receive the lead wires I8 leading to the lamp socket. In order to place or replace the lamp I9 in the socket there may be provided a` removable cover 20 held in place by spring clips 2| engaging slots 22. The cover may carry a 2 central stud 23 to which is fixed a light shielding disc 24. A suitable reflector 25 may be positioned and secured in any desirable manner above the lamp. At 26 is shown a Ventilating window with a removable cover 2l.

The enlarger head proper, or that portion indicated at 2, is for housing a light condenser element with a bevelled edge 9|, there being a wire 92 to t between the bevelled edge 93 and the lower side of the condenser to hold it in place. Below this is a second condenser element 3|] with a removable diffusing disc 29 between the elements 90 and 30. Below this is a third condenser element 3|.

The portion 3 of the enlarger head is hingedly connected to portion 2 and carries a pressure plate 32 for holding the film 33 pressed tightly between the plate 32 `and the condenser element 3|. The lens casing 4 is carried by a shell 34 by means of which the casing is secured by screws 35 to an inner sleeve 36 tted inside of the portion 3. This inner shell has a spiral outer recess 36 to receive a lug 3l on the outer face of portion 3 and urged inwardly by a leaf spring 38 secured to the portion 3 at 39 for fo- 50 cusing purposes.

The condenser 3| may be removably held in place by the following means. An inner sleeve 40 is held by bolts 4I to the portion 2. This sleeve has a bevelled face 43 to receive a corre- 55 denser 3|.

spondingly bevelled adjacent face of the con- Leaf springs 42 carried by the bolts 4| `pring press the condenser against its bevelled sea For the purpose of easy assembly, inspection and replacement, the portion 2 is provided with a sliding drawer 44 with a handle 45 for carrying the condenser element 30 and the removable diffusing disc 29. This drawer may be removed and replaced at will. 'Ihe drawer is tted with spring clamping members 46 to hold the assembly of elements 29 and 39 in their respective positions shown in Fig. 3. Upon withdrawal of the drawer, the lower face of condenser 90 and the upper face of condenser 3| and both faces of condenser 30 and diffusing disc 29 are accessible'so as to be inspected and cleaned. A simple means -of maintaining the drawer closed is .shown as comprising a leaf spring 91 secured tov the hous' ingl 2 at 98 and provided with a knob 99 to engage a recess |00 in the drawer. This prevents accidental movement of the drawer but 'the resilient nature of the catch renders the drawer adjustable with regard to the housing 2.

manually removable with ease.

As mentioned before, the housing 3 is pivotally HouS.-

- ing 3 carries a pair of forks 41 and housing2 carries an extension 5U, both being formed with elongated slots 48 to receive a cross pin 49. The engagement of pin 49 with slots 48 permits relatively longitudinal movement and pivotal movement in that plane only. Thus as the lower housing 3 is clamped tightly againstrhousing 2 thevpin may ride upwardly in-V these slots.

The main necessity for such a tightlyv clamped Vrelationship is to rmly clamp the lm between vthe pressure plate 32 and the condenser element 3|. In order to accomplish this it is proposed to use a clamping ring 5|. Thisring has an angular portion 52 to engage the under surface of a stationary flange 53 at the top of housing 3. The ring 5| has secured thereto at 55a pair of anges 54 which t over the annular flanges 56 of the sleeve 40 of the housing 2. The sleeve 49 is stationary but the ring 5| is rotatable and carries a handle 51 for rotating the same. The flanges 54 are provided with a plurality of projections 58 with spaces 59 therebetween. As the lower housing 3 is brought up against the housing 2 the flanges 56 fit in the slots 59 between the projections 58. A turning of the handle 51 vin one direction passes the projections 58 over the flanges 56 to hold the housings 2 and 3 in locked engagement. In order, however, to make this locking device a clamping one, the lower faces of the projections 58 are inclined or tapered `at 58 in an appropriate manner so as to forcibly draw the lower housing 3 upwardly and tightly against the housing 2. The previously described relationship of pin 49 with slots 48 permits this relative vertical movement. This tight clamping engagement effectively brings the pressure plate 32 in close relationship to the lowerV face of the condenser element 3| so as to effectively press the lm flat therebetween. c

- The device in its entirety may be supported from a base 60 by means of a pair of inclined posts 6| and 62. A single casting 63 has its hollow sleeves 64 and 65 placed respectively around posts 6| and 62 and is slidable up and down on the posts. 'The enlarger is thus movable simultaneously upwardly and outwardly and also downwardly and inwardly with respect 'to its base. Thus the base does not interfere with the eld of the enlarger as it is elevated. lin Fig. 4, the

an arc of degrees starting from the vertical with the lens casing nearest the horizontal plane. This is for the purpose of making enlargements on a vertical plane such as a wall. It also makes for easier inspection and cleaning. In order to .accomplish this the housing 2 may be provided with integral extensions 64' and 65'. The casting 63 also includes integral arms 12 and 13 between which the extensions 64' and 65 fit. These arms 12 and 13 are apertured to receive screw bolts 16 -and 15 of extensions 64 and 65 for screw threaded engagement. A washer 14 may be placed be-v` tween the arm 13 and the adjacent extension 65. VAs the handle 11 of bolt 15 is turned in one direction the entire device is clamped against ro-` cured in a lug 83 formed on the extension 64'.'

Preferably this bolt is so adjusted that when the 'bolt 82 comes to rest against the face 80 in the4 position shown in Figure 1, the operator will know that the device is in the true vertical position. So positioned at another point on the extension 64 is a similar lug 94 with an adjustable bolt 95 to engage the under side of the stop 8|. This arrangement limits the rotative adjustment to 90 degrees between the vertical and horizontal. Y

.Thus it will be seen that there has been provided a photographic enlarger that is vertically adjustable and also adjustable rotatably about a transverse axis. There has also been provided an enlarger in which ready access may be obtained to all parts without disassembly of the devic'e itself. There has also been provided an effective pressure plate for the lm. The lens and the lamp are likewise easily adjusted relatively to each other and the remaining parts. The condensing and diffusing means are not only readily r accessible but removable and means are also provided for insuring and maintaining proper alignment. Moreover, the upper surface of the condenser may b e cleaned after the lamp housing is removed. When the drawer is removed the diffusing element 29 and the condenser 9|l'may be cleaned. This gives access to the lower surface of condenser 90 and the upper surface of condenser 3| for cleaning without removal of either. When the lower housing 3 is tilted as in Fig. l, ready access is had to the lower surface of condenser 3| for cleaning, also without removal. Likewise the upper surface of the pressure plate 32 is accessible for cleaning. During any or all of these cleaning operations the lamp |9may be kept illuminated so that the necessity or lack of necessity for the cleaning of theparts is made more readily determinable, inasmuch as the illumination makes the dust particles, if present, show up more distinctly. The above mentioned arrangement makes it possible to use the same light source for cleaning the elements as is used for making the enlargements instead of providing an auxiliary source'as The lamp housing I is removably held on the housing 2 by means of suitable hand screw H0.

I claim:

l. In`a photographic enlarging apparatus in- `cluding a lamp and a housing therefor, an enlarger head having an upper casing and a lower casing, a condenser unit supported by said upper casing, said unit comprising an upper and lower light condenser, a self-aligning intermediate light condenser and diffusing disc. means comprising a removable drawer in said upper casing for 'removably retaining and supporting said intermediate light condenser and diffusing disc, said diffusing disc being removable from said drawer independently of said intermediate condenser.

2. In a photographic lm enlarging apparatus including a lamp and a housing therefor, an enlarger head having an upper casing and a lower casing pivotally connected to said upper casing, a light condenser carried by said upper casing and a pressure plate carried by said lower casing, means for positively clamping and locking said lower casing to said upper casing and foipositively pressing and holding the lm flat between the adjacent surfaces of said condenser and pressure plate, said means comprising a rotatable locking ring provided with a plurality of spaced inclined faces and complementary faces provided on said upper casing adapted to be engaged by those of said ring and coacting upon rotation of said ring to draw the lower casing upwardly against said upper casing to clamp and lock the two together.

3. In a photographic lm enlarging apparatus including a lamp and a housing therefor, an enlarger head having an upper casing and a lower casing pivotally connected to said upper casing, a light condenser carried by said upper casing and a pressure plate carried by said lower casing, means for positively clamping and locking said lower casing to said upper casing and for positively pressing and holding the lm flat between the adjacent surfaces of said condenser and pressure plate, said means comprising a rotatable locking ring provided with' a plurality of spaced inclined faces and complementary faces provided on said upper casing adapted to be engaged by those of said ring and coacting upon rotation of said ring to draw the lower casing upwardly against said upper casing to clamp and lock the two together, the pivotal connection between the housings being provided with an elongated slot permitting relative pivotal and vertical movement of the lower casing in one plane only.

4. In a photographic enlarging apparatus, a housing, a lamp, a lens, a diffusing disc and a plurality of condenser elements removably mounted in said housing and enclosedthereby, means carried by said housing for supporting said condenser elements and diffusing disc in said housing independently of each other and in predetermined aligned superimposed relationship, one of said condenser elements and said diiusing disc -and their immediate respective supporting means being removable from said housing independently of said other elements, and said diiusing disc being removable from said supporting means independently of said condenser element. i

5. `In a photographic enlarging apparatus, a

lamp, a housing, a lens and a plurality of condenser elements removably mounted in said housing and enclosed thereby, means carried by said housing for supporting said condenser elements in said housing independently of each other and in predetermined aligned superimposed relationship, one of said condenser elements and its immediate respective supporting means being removable from said housing independently of the other of said condenser elements, a pressure plate arranged adjacent one of said condenser elements so as to receive a fllm therebetween, a pair of members with complementary cam surfaces, said pressure plate being supported so as to be moved toward and away from said condenser element by reason of the engagement of said complementary cam surfaces, means for operating said pair of members for releasably locking said members together for positively pressing and releasably holding said filmV flat between said pressure plate and said condenser elements.

6. In a photographic enlarging apparatus. a housing, a lamp, a lens, a diffusing disc and a plurality. of condenser elements removably mounted in said housing and enclosed thereby, means carried by said housing for supporting saldcondenser elements and diffusing disc in said housing independently of each other and in predetermined aligned superimposed relationship, one of said-condenser elements .and said diffusing disc and their immediate respective supporting means being removable from said housing independently of said other elements and said diffusing disc being removable from said supporting means independently of said condenser element, a pressure plate arranged adjacent one of said condenser elements so as to receive a film therebetween, a pair of members with complementary cam surfaces, said pressure plate being supported so as to be moved toward and away from said condenser element by reason of the engagement of said complementary cam surfaces, means for operating said pair of members for releasably locking said members together for positively pressing and releasably holding said film fiat between said pressure plate and said condenser elements. Y

7. In a photographic enlarging apparatus, a housing, a lamp and a plurality of condenser elements removably mounted in said housing and enclosed thereby, a lens and a separate housing for enclosing and supporting said lens, a pivotal connection between said first named housing and said last named housing, said pivetal connection being provided with an elongated slot permitting relative pivotal and lon-v gitudinal movement of said housing enclosing and supporting said lens in one plane only, a pressure plate carried by said housing enclosing and supporting said lens and arranged adjacent one of said condenser elements so as to receive a film therebetween, a manually operable cam actuated means for moving said housing supporting said lens longitudinally thereof for positively pressing and releasably holding said yfilm ilat between said pressure plate and said last named condenser element.

8. In a photographic lm enlarging apparatus `including a lamp and a housing therefor, the

combination of an enlarger head having an upper casing and a lower casing, a light condenser carried by one of said casings and a pressure plate carried by the other of said casings, means for-positively pressing and releasably holding said lm flat between the adjacent surfaces of said light condenser and said pressure plate, said means comprising a pair of members having complementary cam surfaces, said members eect movement of one of said casings toward and away from the other roi.' said casings by reason of the engagement of said complementary cam surfaces, means for limiting said movement of said casing to one plane only, said means comprising an elongated slotted connection be- Atween said casings permitting only relatively longitudinal movement thereof.

9. In a photographic enlarging apparatus, the combination of a lamp, a housing, a lens, a pluralityl of condenser elements removably mounted in-said housing and enclosed thereby, means carried by said housing for supporting said condenser elements in said housing independently of each other and in predetermined aligned superimposed relationship, one of said condenser elements and its immediate respective supporting means being removable from said housing independently of the other of said` condenser elements, a pressure plate and its supporting means arranged adjacent one of said condenser elements so as'to receive a film therebetween. means for positively pressing and releasably holding said lm flat between said adjacent surfaces of one of said condenser elements and said pressure plate, said means comprising a' pair of members having complementary cam surfaces, said members being supported so as to move said pressure plate toward and away from said condenser element by reason of the engagement of said complementary cam surfaces, and

a pivotal connection between said housing enclosing said condenser elements` and said pressure plate supporting -means, said pivotal connection being provided with an elongated slot permitting relatively pivotal land longitudinal movement of said pressure plate.

JOHN P. GATY. 20 

